Description

MEETING OVERVIEW
This international biomedical conference will be held March 12-15 2009 at the Sheraton Sand Key Hotel in Clearwater, Florida. The purpose of this meeting is to foster exchange of the most recent findings and ideas in the emerging field of regulatory myeloid cells. Recent
years have brought a wealth of information about the important role of immune suppressive myeloid cells in cancer, sepsis, various infection diseases, autoimmunity, and other pathologies. A number of studies have
suggested that these cells can be a myeloid analog of regulatory T cells due to their high plasticity in response to various stimuli and high potential to suppress ongoing immune responses. Several clinical trials target these
cells with the goal to improve immune response in cancer. However, the field as well as the term â€œregulatory myeloid cellsâ€ are highly controversial and many issues remain unresolved. It appears that now is a good time
to bring together scientists from different fields to discuss various aspects of accumulation, differentiation,regulation, and function of these cells in a broad context
of immunology of cancer and other diseases. There is a pressing need for the entire field to discuss already described and new emerging mechanisms to see how they can be put together in more or less cohesive structure. Special emphasis will be placed on new approaches to therapeutic correction of observed abnormalities.
The conference will feature scientists from diverse areas of research working on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), regulatory (suppressive) dendritic cells, as well as suppressive macrophages. In addition to
specialized sessions, the conference will include plenary lectures presented by scientists who are not necessarily
involved in the study of myeloid suppressive cells but whose work may directly impact this field. The conference will also include workshops, poster sessions, roundtable discussion, vendor exhibits, and several meal
functions. Time will be set aside for networking
with colleagues from around the world. This innovative and exciting program will be presented by leading experts in the field and will cover recent advances in regulatory
myeloid cells and immune suppression in cancer and other diseases. The translation of basic science discoveries from the laboratory bench to the treatment of cancer patients in the clinic will be emphasized.

Venue

Additional Information

MEETING OBJECTIVES
As a result of participating in this educational program, participants will be able to:
â€¢ Assess recent progress in our understanding of the role of myeloid suppressor cells in different pathological conditions.
â€¢ Examine how different molecular pathways contribute to the function of myeloid suppressive cells and affect immune response in cancer, trauma, autoimmune, and infectious diseases.
â€¢ Evaluate different mechanisms of immune suppression in cancer and other diseases.
â€¢ Apply these therapy mechanisms to different
pathological conditions.
â€¢ Review and discuss how our knowledge of myeloid suppressor cells can be translated into new therapeutics.